Masaki Kanai, Director-General of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau of Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, visited China on the 17th for consultations with Beijing officials regarding Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks on Taiwan. On the 18th, after the consultations, he left the Chinese Foreign Ministry without responding to media inquiries.
According to a report by China Central Television, Liu Jinsong, Director General of the Asian Affairs Department of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, met with Masaki Kanai on the same day. Around 2 p.m., Kanai and his delegation left the Chinese Foreign Ministry. Facing questions from the media, he did not make any statements.
In the morning of the 18th, Kanai left his hotel. When asked by reporters about Sino-Japanese relations and the purpose of the talks, he did not reply and left quickly with his head down, maintaining a serious expression throughout.
Previously, Kanai stated that during his visit to China, he intended to reiterate to the Chinese side that Sanae Takaichi’s remarks did not change the Japanese government’s consistent position, hoping to help quell the situation.